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Is The Dakar? |
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First run in 1978 the Paris-Dakar Rally became recognised as the toughest
of the "off-road" road events, designed to be the ultimate
"leveller", pushing man and machine to their limits. Covering
up to 15,000 km over some of the most inhospitable terrain known,
the rally is renowned for its gruelling conditions. Competitors must
face the Atlas mountains, shifting sands and desert winds in the Sahara
and endless miles of rock-strewn, pot-holed roads, tracks and river
beds. In 1992 the rally doubled its length with the finish in Cape
Town, but for many competitors the finish in Dakar, with the final
headlong race along the s ands of the shore, symbolised the spirit
of the event. In 1993 the Rally went back to Dakar, and has since
retained its start or finish in the Senegalese Capital City. The 1996
and 1999 rallies started from the Spanish city of Granada and by this
time the race was becoming known simply as The Dakar. The 1997 event
started and finished in Dakar, but it was been decided that the 20th
Edition would start in Paris to maximise its media potential, and
the finish was once again in Dakar. The millennium edition started
in Dakar and ran for 17 stages and 11,000 km to the Egyptian capital
Cairo, whilst the 2001 edition reverted to the traditional Paris start
and Dakar finish.
1977, Thierry Sabine gets lost in the Libyan desert whilst participating
in the Abidjan- Nice Rally. Found in extremis he returns to France
subjugated by the desert. He vows to share this passion with a maximum
of people and has one objective in mind : to transport everyone into
this immensity of sand.
He imagines a route starting in Europe, crossing the most mythical
deserts and finishing in Dakar. The project takes shape quickly.
The Paris- Dakar opens upon an unknown world in which Thierry Sabine
appears like a real pioneer. Son credo is : " A challenge for those
who go. A dream for those who stay behind. " Africa remains one
of the continents people dream most about and which is multifaceted.
The First year
On the 26th of December 1978 Thierry Sabine sees his dream come
true and it is from the Place du Trocadéro that the first Paris-
Dakar sets off. 170 competitors are at the start and set off on
an adventure for a 10 000 kilometre race over the routes of Algeria,
Niger, Mali, Haute- Volta and Senegal. The most widely covered race
of the end of the 80' years is launched. It's particularity lies
in it's contrasts : a civilisation of traditional villages with
dried mud walls, opens out for an instant on a modern world.
The first motorbike winner is a young man named Cyril Neveu (Yamaha).
As yet still unknown, he will from this moment on continue to accumulate
sporting performances. Moreover he recognises with hindsight : "I
was 21 years old, I already had experience of Africa through the
Abidjan- Nice. I was like all the others, a novice behind the handlebars
of his 500 XT. Without the leather saddlebags… ". For this first
experience, the sporting exploit, the self discovery and the surpassing
of one's own limits are already on the first ground. This first
Dakar definitely changed the life of every competitor.
It is to be noted that from the very first edition Hubert Auriol,
the current Dakar Director, is present. Through this race, he hopes
to experience powerful moments; it is a real interior adventure;
his interest for the rally is furthermore doubled as not only is
Hubert Auriol a motorbike enthusiast, but having lived there for
12 years, Africa also holds for him a special attraction.
(© Dakar.com)
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©Dakarrally
2002
